REC: everything broken gets put back together again

[silverusagi]

everything broken gets put back together again (23,399 words) by ellemzee
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet
Additional Tags: Mutual Pining, Making Up, Post-Season/Series 01, Implied/Referenced Sex, light stabbing

Summary: Ed didn't account for the possibility that Stede would show up without anyone having to find him, red-faced and furious and bursting with love, over the side of his boat, looking all windswept and gorgeous, and challenge him to a duel. Because that would be absolutely mental. And that's what happens, because of course, Ed's forgotten who he's dealing with.

When Ed won't talk to him, Stede challenges Ed to a duel. Except that Stede is dead on his feet so Ed says he'll give him a week to prepare. It's not like they're going to get closer and closer in that time or anything. Nope, not at all.

“I came back to you.”

Ed can feel his resolve weaken, the words beating on the newly built walls around his heart. It's awful. And the entire crew is standing there to witness the situation unfolding, and Ed's got to do something that isn't stabbing or kissing and he's not sure what.

“You're too late. Get off my ship.”

“This is my ship,” replies Stede, and there's an edge to his voice. “I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to stand down, Edward.”

Now he's really got to do something about it. Blackbeard doesn't take threats from anyone, let alone men who have wronged him. Even if it's wildly attractive. Izzy is practically salivating behind him, Ed doesn't need to see him to know that, hands itching over his pistol. Ed makes his decision before Izzy can make it for him. He strides across the deck and grabs the front of Bonnet's shirt (hello, bare neck), bunching it up at his throat and twisting, immediately aware that closing the distance between them was a massive mistake.

Because Stede is not afraid of him. Stede has never been afraid, not now, not before, not when Ed had tearfully admitted to plotting his murder. He's not intimidated by the greasepaint or the leather or the smell of rum that no doubt permeates Ed's skin through his pores at this point. He merely stands there, allowing Ed to manhandle him, one hand closing on the wrist that's under his chin, his touch burning like fire, staring straight into his eyes. Like he might wait a beat, say something like, “are you done acting out, Edward dear?”

Stede Bonnet has only ever thought of Blackbeard, the scourge of the seas, the dread pirate who struck fear in the hearts of anyone with any sense, who terrorized ports all over the Caribbean- as his dearest friend.

And Ed just doesn't know what to do with that.

“You dare,” he hisses, trying to maintain his composure, “show up here a month late, demanding things from me?”

“I haven't demanded anything, yet. I asked quite nicely, I thought.”